Thursday 5th September is International Day of Charity, a moment to recognise the incredible work being done by charitable organisations across the globe, and the power of giving back. At MindWorks, this isn’t just a one-off event. Supporting charities is part of who we are day in day out. Over our 27-year history, we’ve raised thousands of pounds worth of funds, rolled up our sleeves, and committed time and energy to causes that matter. It’s one of the ways we bring our company values to life, namely ‘Bringing joy to everything we do’.
But our commitment to charity isn’t just good for the organisations we support. It’s good for us too. Here’s why.
A CULTURE THAT GIVES BACK
From the outset, charity work has played an important role in how we work as a team. It connects us to our community, gives us shared goals outside of day-to-day deadlines, and offers real purpose beyond profit. Giving back is not a policy. It’s a mindset. And we see it in action right across the business from fundraising events and beach cleans to personal sponsorships and volunteer time. This culture of contribution makes us proud of who we are and what we stand for.
PRACTICAL WAYS WE SUPPORT
We’ve built charitable support into our internal working life. Every colleague is entitled to one paid volunteer day per year, to support a charity of their choice as well as a £50 annual sponsorship bounty, to help back the causes they care about personally. It’s a small gesture, but it opens the door to huge impact. People feel empowered to support what matters to them, in a way that works around their role and that flexibility means engagement stays high.
One colleague, Lucy, recently used both to support her son and his school by sponsoring their car in the amazing Greenpower Goblin challenge at the iconic Goodwood racetrack in Chichester. Organised by the Greenpower Education Trust, the Goblins project invites primary school children across the UK to design, build, and race electric cars at real motorsport venues. It’s an incredible initiative aimed at sparking early interest in engineering and science careers.
We also try to support as many local charities as we can with pro bono work and free advice and are known for our 1-hour free, no-obligation consultancy sessions which have benefitted many start-ups and charities in our local community over the years. It’s great for our team to feel as though they are adding value and it often leads to interesting projects longer term.
CHARITIES CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS
We’ve supported a wide range of brilliant causes over the years with our fundraising activity, including the Stroke Association, the only charity in the UK providing lifelong support for all stroke survivors and their families; Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity who fund ground-breaking research, life-saving treatment and specialist care for seriously ill children; and St Wilfrid’s Hospice, providing compassionate palliative and end-of-life care in our local community.
These causes are close to our heart and every year our house charity is voted for by our colleagues and the one with the most votes is championed for the full 12 months. Whether it’s bake sales, sponsored runs or internal sweepstakes, our fundraising is varied, creative and always team-driven. These campaigns build morale, camaraderie and meaning – all while making a tangible difference.
BEACH CLEANS WITH REAL BENEFITS
Another proud tradition at MindWorks is our long-running commitment to beach clean events. Over the years, we’ve taken part in dozens from the south coast with our local environmental charity The Final Straw Foundation to as far afield as Scotland earlier this year with our friends and clients at Suzuki Marine. The environmental impact is obvious, but so is the human benefit. Being outdoors, doing something physical and purposeful, in a beautiful setting are experiences which support our mental wellbeing, encourage mindfulness, and offer valuable time away from screens.
They also reflect a broader sense of social value that’s increasingly important for modern businesses and for the people who choose to work with them. When our team feels connected to something bigger, it lifts morale and fuels better work. That’s why we’ll continue to invest in meaningful charitable involvement as part of how we do business.
WHY IT MATTERS ON 5TH SEPTEMBER AND BEYOND
International Day of Charity is naturally a moment to reflect but at MindWorks, it’s also a reminder of the difference we can make all year round. As a small business, we’re incredibly proud of our impact so far and we’re absolutely committed to doing even more in the future.
So, whether it’s a sponsored run, a windswept beach clean or even a crazy sky dive, we’ll continue to support the causes that matter to us because giving back isn’t just good for the world around us.
It’s good for us, too.
